JP2004070673A - Card reader/writer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card reader/writer capable of properly processing a thin card, and carrying a thick card without generating jam in a card conveyance path. <P>SOLUTION: A first driving roller 8 for conveyance and an entrance roller 10 are arranged so as to be faced to each other at a card input port 3 side of a card conveyance path 6 arranged so as to be bent between the card input port 3 and a reading/writing part 7. Furthermore, a second driving roller 9 for conveyance and a thick card conveyance roller 11 are arranged so as to be faced to each other in a non-contact state at a reading part 7 side of the card conveyance path 6 so that not a thin card but a thick card can be interposed. Thus, it is possible to prevent any excessive conveying force from acting on the thin card prior to its conveyance to the reading/writing part 7, and to properly carry out the reading/writing processing. Meanwhile, it is possible to let a strong conveying force act on the thick card, and to prevent the generation of jam in the card conveyance path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a card reader / writer, and particularly to a card for reading / writing information from / to a thin and flexible card-type information recording medium such as a PET card manufactured using polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Related to reader / writer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, thin and flexible card-type information recording media such as so-called PET cards have been widely used for prepaid cards, point cards, and commuter passes issued by various transportation means.
[0003]
A card reader / writer for reading or writing information from or to a card is installed in a store or a ticket vending machine of a transportation facility using such a card. When a card is inserted into the card reader / writer, the card reader / writer conveys the card to the inside so that the read / write unit can read recorded information or write new information to the card. Has become.
[0004]
Conventionally, card readers / writers that handle thin and flexible cards consider the space efficiency of the cards, so that the cards are inserted horizontally when the cards are inserted, and then the transport direction of the cards is changed to the vertical direction. In many cases, the processing is performed by the reading / writing unit after the processing. In this case, the inserted card is first conveyed in the horizontal direction, and then conveyed while being deformed along the curved conveyance path, and the conveyance direction is gradually changed to the vertical direction. In the read / write unit, the card performs the read / write process in a straight state in which the card has recovered its shape due to its flexibility. The card on which the reading / writing process has been completed is conveyed in the conveying path in the reverse direction and returned to the card slot, or collected inside the card reader / writer.
[0005]
By the way, in a card reader / writer that handles such a thin and flexible card (hereinafter referred to as a “thin card”), for example, a thick and rigid card such as a license (hereinafter referred to as a “thick card”) is used. If the transfer path is transported or returned, clogging may occur at a curved portion of the transport path (hereinafter, referred to as a “curved portion”).
[0006]
As an improvement measure to prevent thick cards from being jammed in the curved transport path, a transport force improvement that overcomes the resistance (friction) force generated during the transport of such thick cards near the curved portion It is conceivable to additionally provide a transport roller for the purpose.
[0007]
However, in the curved portion, in addition to a thick card in question, a thin card that should be properly processed must be passed. If you try to transport a conventional thin card with a transport roller that realizes a strong transport force capable of transporting a thick card, excessive transport force acts on the thin card that is transported while deforming. In some cases, the read / write processing in the read / write unit may be hindered.
[0008]
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-64959 proposes a card transport mechanism for avoiding inconvenience caused when a thin card is inserted into a card reader / writer which originally handles a thick card.
[0009]
In this proposal, a card transport mechanism that transports a thick card inserted in a horizontal direction in a horizontal direction as it is by a plurality of rollers arranged opposite to each other across a transport path, and detects a thickness of the transported card. The rollers are collectively moved in the card thickness direction according to the thickness, and the gap between the opposing rollers is changed, so that the cards having different thicknesses are nipped and conveyed.
[0010]
Furthermore, in the same proposal, a card transport mechanism in which a main roller and an auxiliary roller provided with a gap and a material suitable for the transport of a thick card and a thin card are provided coaxially, and each of the cards having a different thickness is provided. The card is pinched and transported. Here, a flexible foam rubber is exemplified as a material of the auxiliary roller, and even if the auxiliary roller is arranged with a gap (for example, zero) capable of conveying a thin card, a thick card can pass through the gap. It has been like that.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the conventionally proposed card transport mechanism is directly applied to a card reader / writer having a curved portion for transporting a thin card by changing its transport direction from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction as it is, the following is required. The following problems occur.
[0012]
When trying to apply the conventional card transport mechanism, first, a card thickness detecting means for determining the thickness of the card inserted before reaching the curved portion, and according to the thickness when a thick card is inserted It is necessary to add variable means for changing the gap between the opposing rollers, and there is a problem that the size of the card reader / writer increases.
[0013]
Further, when a roller having a main roller and an auxiliary roller arranged on the same axis is provided on the curved portion, a thick card is conveyed by the main roller and passed through the auxiliary roller, while it should be originally conveyed properly. The thin card is transported by the auxiliary roller. However, even in this case, when the thick card passes through the curved portion, the transport direction continues to change, so unlike the conventional case in which the thick card enters between the opposing auxiliary rollers in the horizontal direction, the gap is increased. There is a possibility that clogging may occur in an auxiliary roller provided with little. Further, a strong transport force is applied to a thin card that is transported while being deformed, which may hinder subsequent reading / writing processing.
[0014]
As described above, in a card reader / writer that handles thin cards, an effective remedy for preventing the occurrence of jamming in the curved portion of the transport path when a thick card is inserted has not yet been obtained. Is the current situation. Such clogging of the thick card in the transport path causes rejection of the subsequent card or stoppage of the operation of the card reader / writer, and inhibits proper processing of the thin card.
[0015]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has been made to convey a thin card normally to properly read / write the information, and to transport a thick card in a curved conveyance path. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card reader / writer that can carry without being clogged.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, a card slot into which a thin card or a thick card is inserted, a read / write unit for reading or writing information on the thin card, and the card slot. And a curved card transporter disposed between the card reader and the reader / writer for changing the transport direction of the thin card or the thick card inserted into the card slot and transporting the card toward the reader / writer. And a card reader / writer having the card transport path, the card reader / writer being arranged on the side of the card slot, and holding the thin card or the thick card inserted into the card slot, respectively, to read and write the card. A card input side roller unit having a pair of rollers for transporting to the side of the unit, and the thin car on the side of the read / write unit of the card transport path The said thick card without pinching the card reader-writer, characterized by having a write side roller portion having a pair of rollers disposed spaced to sandwich are provided.
[0017]
In such a card reader / writer, a pair of rollers of a card slot side roller section are arranged so as to pinch a thin card or a thick card, and a pair of rollers of a reading / writing section roller section are The gaps are arranged so that a thick card can be pinched without pinching a thin card. Of the thin cards and the thick cards to be inserted into the card reader / writer, since the thin cards are not pinched by the reading / writing section roller section, the reading / writing section side roller section is applied to the thin card before being transported to the reading / writing section. Does not work. On the other hand, the thick card is sandwiched between the read / write unit-side rollers, so that the transport force of the read / write unit-side rollers acts on the thick card.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case where the present invention is applied to a card reader / writer that handles cards and bills.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is an external view of the card reader / writer as viewed from the front.
The card reader / writer 1 has, on its front side, a bill insertion slot 2 for accepting a bill from a user and returning the bill or change bill to the user. Further, the card reader / writer 1 accepts the insertion of a card (a thin card or a thick card) from the user side, performs a predetermined process, and returns the card insertion slot 3 for returning the card to the user side. Have. In the back of the bill insertion slot 2 and the card insertion slot 3, there is provided a transport unit having a transport mechanism for transporting the bill and the card.
[0020]
A bill conveyance path is provided in the back of the bill insertion slot 2, and the inserted bill is conveyed through the bill conveyance path and guided to the inside of the card reader / writer 1. Similarly, a card transport path is provided at the back of the card slot 3 so that the inserted card is guided into the card reader / writer 1.
[0021]
Such a card reader / writer 1 is mounted on, for example, a card issuing device such as a prepaid card or a ticket vending machine such as a commuter pass, and issues a predetermined card in which amount information and the like corresponding to the amount of inserted bills are recorded. Used for
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a transport unit of the card reader / writer.
The transport section 4 of the card reader / writer 1 is provided with a bill transport path 5 extending from the bill insertion slot 2 and a card transport path 6 extending from the card slot 3.
[0023]
The bill conveyance path 5 conveys the bills inserted into the bill insertion slot 2 in the horizontal direction, then changes the conveyance direction to the vertical direction, and takes the bills into the inside of the card reader / writer 1. During this conveyance, the banknotes are determined for their authenticity and denomination, and the banknotes determined to be false are returned to the banknote insertion slot 2 through the banknote transport path 5, and only the banknotes determined to be true are inside the card reader / writer 1. It is further transported to
[0024]
The card transport path 6 has a curved shape immediately after the card insertion slot 3 into which the card is inserted in the horizontal direction, and gradually changes the transport direction of the card from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. It has become. A read / write unit 7 for reading / writing information from / to a thin card inserted is arranged at the end of the card transport path 6, that is, at the end opposite to the card slot 3.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the transport unit in a standby state, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. In the card transport path 6, a first transport drive roller 8 is disposed on the card slot 3 side as a roller for transporting the inserted card in the horizontal direction. A second transporting roller is provided at the end of the card transporting path 6 as a roller for further transporting a card whose transporting direction is gradually changed from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction along the curved shape of the card transporting path 6. A drive roller 9 is provided. The first transport drive roller 8 and the second transport drive roller 9 rotate clockwise in the figure when the card is transported into the card reader / writer 1, and rotate when the card is returned to the card slot 3. It rotates in a counter-clockwise direction.
[0026]
Further, an entrance roller 10 and a thick card transport roller 11 are disposed in the card transport path 6 as rollers facing the first transport drive roller 8 and the second transport drive roller 9.
[0027]
The shafts 12 and 13 on which the entrance roller 10 and the thick card transport roller 11 are respectively supported are urged toward the first transport drive roller 8 and the second transport drive roller 9 by springs 14, respectively. The shafts 12 and 13 are in contact with the outer wall of the card transport path 6 when the card reader / writer 1 is on standby. The shaft 13 comes into contact with a depression provided on the outer wall of the card transport path 6.
[0028]
When the shaft 12 is in contact with the outer wall of the card transport path 6, the entrance roller 10 comes into contact with the opposing first transport drive roller 8 in the card transport path 6, and the card insertion port 3 , Regardless of the thickness of the card, the card can be pinched and transported. That is, according to the thickness of the inserted card, the entrance roller 10 moves to the side opposite to the first transport drive roller 8 against the urging force of the spring 14, and transports the card in the first transport direction. To the driving roller 8. As a result, the card is nipped and transported by the entrance roller 10 and the first transport drive roller 8.
[0029]
On the other hand, even when the shaft 13 is in contact with the depression of the outer wall of the card transport path 6 during standby of the card reader / writer 1, the thick card transport roller 11 is set in advance so as not to contact the opposing second transport drive roller 9. It is formed by adjusting its diameter.
[0030]
Here, the diameter of the thick card transport roller 11 is such that when a thick card enters between itself and the second transport drive roller 9, the thick card is moved to the thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9. 9 is adjusted so as to be sandwiched. That is, even if a thin card enters between the thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9, the card is not pinched. However, when a thick card enters, the thick card transport roller 11 moves to the side opposite to the second transport drive roller 9 against the urging force of the spring 14 and removes the thick card. It is pressed against the second transport drive roller 9 and is nipped.
[0031]
This diameter adjustment is performed, for example, by forming the thick card transport roller 11 with a smaller diameter than the entrance roller 10 within a range that satisfies the requirement of sandwiching the thick card that has entered the second transport drive roller 9. Can be done by doing
[0032]
The entrance roller 10 and the first transport drive roller 8 that are supported by the shaft 12 are provided on the card insertion path 3 side of the card transport path 6 and constitute a card insertion port side roller unit. The thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9 supported by the shaft 13 are provided on the read / write section 7 side of the card transport path 6 and constitute a read / write section side roller section.
[0033]
A case where a thin card that should be properly processed is inserted into the card reader / writer 1 having the transport unit 4 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a transport unit when a thin card is transported, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG.
When the thin card 20 is inserted from the card insertion slot 3, the thin card 20 includes an entrance roller 10 urged by a spring 14, and a first transport drive roller that rotates clockwise in FIG. 8 and is conveyed in the card conveying path 6 in the horizontal direction.
[0035]
Thereafter, the leading end of the thin card 20 to be transported comes into contact with the inner wall of the card transport path 6. At this time, the rear end side of the thin card 20 is still nipped between the entrance roller 10 and the first conveying drive roller 8, and the thin card 20 is kept in the first conveying state even after the leading end thereof abuts. A force for transporting in the horizontal direction is exerted by the driving roller 8. At this time, the thin card 20 flexibly deforms its shape, is conveyed along the curved shape in the card conveying path 6, and gradually changes its conveying direction to the vertical direction.
[0036]
Then, the thin card 20 is conveyed with its leading end along the inner wall of the card conveyance path 6 and is sandwiched between the thick card conveyance roller 11 and the second conveyance drive roller 9 in a non-contact state. Enter without. Then, the thin card 20 is fed out from the rear end side by the first transport driving roller 8 while being in contact with the second transport driving roller 9, and further transported to the read / write unit 7.
[0037]
Thereafter, the thin card 20 is transported to a predetermined position of the reading / writing section 7, where information reading / writing processing is performed.
When the thin card 20 is returned, the thin card 20 conveyed from the reading / writing unit 7 is not pinched between the thick card conveyance roller 11 and the second conveyance drive roller 9 and is moved in the card conveyance path 6. Is transported while being flexibly deformed. Then, the thin card 20 is sandwiched between the entrance roller 10 and the first transport drive roller 8, fed out in the horizontal direction, and returned to the card slot 3.
[0038]
In such a series of transport operations for the thin card 20, since the thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9 are in a non-contact state, the thick card is moved along the curved shape of the card transport path 6. The strong transport force required to transport the thin card 20 does not act on the thin card 20. Therefore, the thin card 20 can be properly processed without interfering with the reading / writing process in the reading / writing unit 7.
[0039]
Next, a case where a thick card is inserted into the card reader / writer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a transport unit when a thick card is transported, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG.
[0040]
When the thick card 30 is inserted from the card slot 3, the thickness of the thick card 30 causes the entrance roller 10 to be in contact with the first transport drive roller 8 against the urging force of the spring 14. Move to the other side. Thus, the thick card 30 is sandwiched between the entrance roller 10 and the first transport drive roller 8 and is transported in the card transport path 6 in the horizontal direction.
[0041]
Thereafter, as in the case of the thin card 20 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the thick card 30 is transported along the curved shape of the card transport path 6, and the transport direction is gradually changed to the vertical direction. I will do it.
[0042]
Then, the thick card 30 enters between the thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9 in a non-contact state. At this time, due to the thickness of the thick card 30, the thick card transport roller 11 moves to the side opposite to the second transport drive roller 9 against the urging force of the spring 14. Therefore, the thick card 30 smoothly enters between the thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9 and is pinched. By being sandwiched in this manner, the transport force of the thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9 is applied to the thick card 30 in addition to the transport force of the entrance roller 10 and the first transport drive roller 8. Will be. Thus, a conveying force required to convey the thick card 30 through the curved card conveying path 6 can be applied.
[0043]
Thereafter, before transporting the thick card 30 to the reading / writing section 7, the first transport driving roller 8 and the second transport driving roller 9 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing to remove the thick card 30 from the card. It is transported to the inlet 3.
[0044]
In such a series of transport operations for the thick card 30, unlike the case of the thin card 20 described above, the thin card 20 enters between the thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9 in a non-contact state. The thick card 30 that has been pinched is now held. As a result, a strong conveying force acts on the thick card 30, and it is possible to prevent the thick card 30 from being jammed in the card conveying path 6.
[0045]
As described above, by adjusting the diameter of the thick card transport roller 11 and maintaining the non-contact state with the opposing second transport drive roller 9, the thin card 20 can The paper can be passed without being pinched between the card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9. As a result, an unnecessarily strong conveying force does not act on the thin card 20, and the reading / writing process in the reading / writing unit 7 is properly performed.
[0046]
On the other hand, if the thick card 30 is used, it can be smoothly inserted between the thick card transport roller 11 and the second transport drive roller 9 to be pinched, and sufficient transport force can be applied to the thick card 30. Can work. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the thick card 30 from being jammed in the card transport path 6.
[0047]
Further, the card reader / writer 1 adjusts the diameter of the thick card transport roller 11 and applies an urging force to the entrance roller 10 and the thick card transport roller 11 by a pressing means using a spring 14. Therefore, the card reader / writer 1 does not increase in size, and can cope with space saving. In addition, other than the above-mentioned spring 14, other elastic bodies can be used as such a pressing means.
[0048]
Further, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the card reader / writer 1 stops due to the inserted thick card 30 being jammed in the card transport path 6. Therefore, the reading / writing process of the thin card 20, which should be processed originally, can be performed smoothly and properly.
[0049]
In the above description, a card reader / writer capable of handling cards and bills has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is generally a card reader / writer that handles thin cards. The present invention can be applied to a device having a curved card transport path.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, a card insertion port side roller section and a reading / writing section side roller section are provided in a curved card conveyance path between a card insertion port and a reading / writing section, and rollers of the reading / writing section side roller section are provided. In this configuration, a thin card cannot be sandwiched and a thick card is arranged in a non-contact state so as to be sandwiched. As a result, the reading / writing process can be properly performed on a thin card, and the occurrence of a jam in the card transport path can be prevented for a thick card.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a card reader / writer as viewed from the front.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a transport unit of the card reader / writer.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a transport unit during standby.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a transport unit when transporting a thin card.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a transport unit when transporting a thick card.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 7;
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 card reader / writer 2 bill insertion slot 3 card insertion slot 4 transport section 5 bill transport path 6 card transport path 7 read / write section 8 first transport drive roller 9 second transport drive roller 10 entrance roller 11 thick card transport roller 12, 13 Axis 14 Spring 20 Thin card 30 Thick card

Claims (3)

A card slot into which a thin card or a thick card is inserted, a read / write unit for reading or writing information on the thin card, and a card slot disposed between the card slot and the read / write unit. A card reader / writer having a curved card conveyance path for changing the conveyance direction of the thin card or the thick card inserted into the card insertion slot and conveying the card to the reading / writing section side,
A pair of rollers arranged on the side of the card slot of the card transport path and for holding the thin card or the thick card inserted into the card slot and transporting the thin card or the thick card to the read / write unit side, respectively. A card input side roller unit having
On the read / write unit side of the card transport path, the read / write unit side roller unit having a pair of rollers arranged so as to sandwich the thin card without sandwiching the thick card and to sandwich the thick card,
A card reader / writer comprising: A pressurizing unit that urges one of the read / write unit-side roller units toward the other roller,
When the thick card enters between the one roller and the other roller, the pressing means presses the thick card against the other roller by the one roller, 2. The card reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the card is held between the one roller and the other roller. 3. The card reader / writer according to claim 2, wherein the pressing unit is a spring that urges the one roller toward the other roller.

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